Bears get 3rd-round pick for former 1st-rounder

In Olsen's 4 disappointing seasons they couldn't exploit his talent

Mike Martz's offense never previously featured a tight end much in the passing game and after a season of trying to do so with Greg Olsen the Bears have scrapped that plan.

Rumors circulated before the 2010 draft the tight end would be traded and that finally happened Thursday, less than 24 hours after agent Drew Rosenhaus announced in a mass email to NFL executives that he had received permission from the Bears to seek a trade for his client, a move a source said infuriated the Bears.

Olsen, a first-round pick in 2007, goes to the Panthers for a third-round draft pick in 2012. The teams discussed the Bears also receiving a player as part of the package but that fell apart. It's going to be challenging for general manager Jerry Angelo to explain how the deal makes the defending NFC North champions better this season as they officially open training camp Friday at Olivet Nazarene in Bourbonnais.

Olsen, who agreed to a contract extension with the Panthers, was entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Bears likely made the determination they didn't want to invest in him for the long haul so why not get something in return? Olsen's statistics slumped under Martz when he made 41 receptions for 404 yards and five touchdowns. With the Panthers, he will work with former Bears offensive line coach Pete Hoener, who is credited with developing Vernon Davis for the 49ers, another tight end Martz used sparingly as a receiver.

The position is getting a massive overhaul as the Bears released tight end Brandon Manumaleuna rather than pay him a $1 million roster bonus. He failed his physical but still made off with $6.105 million last season as part of the $15 million, five-year contract he signed to be a tight end who fit Martz's scheme. Replacing him will be Matt Spaeth, an unrestricted free agent from the Steelers, who is considered a strong blocker at 6 foot 7, 270 pounds. That leaves Kellen Davis as the only tight end remaining from last season.

Perhaps a lasting image of Olsen will be the 58-yard touchdown reception he made to stake the Bears to an early 7-0 lead in their divisional round playoff victory over the Seahawks in January. But Martz didn't accentuate his strengths. There was the time in the regular season game against the Seahawks when the coordinator called for a Matt Forte run behind an unbalanced line on a play in which Olsen became the left tackle and was asked to block 323-pound Red Bryant. The play was blown up.

Olsen was looking for a long-term extension and wanted to get it here. Now, he will team up with another former University of Miami star in Jeremy Shockey in an offense that is expected to rely heavily on the run with rookie quarterback Cam Newton. The Panthers visit Soldier Field on Oct. 2.

The deal came together quickly after Rosenhaus sent out his email Thursday at 7:56 p.m. Eleven minutes later, he sent a follow-up email asking recipients to ignore the previous message but word was out far wider than maybe the Bears had hoped. Three hours later, the Tribune was forwarded copies of the emails and published them.

When the Bears had a deal in place for Olsen before the 2010 draft, they were to receive a second-round pick from the Patriots before New England backed out. Now, they have an extra pick in hand for next year. They also have closed the book on the 2007 draft class unless they can re-sign cornerback Corey Graham, one of nine picks that year.